FICO Score Estimator / FICO Score Simulator

The federal government, through the FACT Act, allows you to receive a free copy of your credit file from each of the 3 major credit bureaus. Unfortunately, a free credit score is not included in your free annual credit report.

You have a right to get access to your 3 credit score ratings, but not for free. It cost money, and it’s not cheap. If you want to get a feel at where your FICO score stands without paying for it – your only option is to use the free FICO Score Estimator from FICO®.

The FICO estimator asks you 10 multiple-choice questions (depending on your answers – a few follow up questions may follow), based on the categories of information that are used to calculate your FICO score: payment history, debt utilization, age of credit history, credit diversity, and recent credit applications.

It’s a good idea to have your credit report handy, because the answers to all of the questions are based on the information that’s on your credit report.

At the end of the questionnaire, the FICO score estimator gives you a range where your 3 FICO scores would fall based on your answers to the questions.

Please keep in mind that FICO® provides this FICO Credit Score Estimator for educational purposes only, and it doesn’t guaranty that your real FICO score falls within the range supplied.

Another important thing to note is that lenders tend to employ their own proprietary methods and standards for granting or declining credit and loan applications. The type of credit risk used and risk-level categories may vary from lender to lender. The estimated FICO credit score range provided here does not guarantee credit approval by any financial institution.

A number of sites offer this FICO Score Simulator from FICO®, but since they are all powered by myFICO.com and ask the same questions – you will get the same FICO score estimate from each. The one you choose is a matter of preference.

Side Note: You need to be older than 18 and must have at least one credit card in your name for at least 6 months in order to have a FICO score. If you’re young or prefer to use cash, it is very likely that you don’t have a score.